Are you a fan of tennis? Well, so are we! Every middle of March we look forward to watching the best players in the world have a go at each other and try to take home the prize money. Last year, USA’s John Isner claimed the trophy in style as he took full advantage of the “Big Four” missing, to advance through the second round.
This year, however, it will be a tough task to defend the said title, but home court advantage is in his favor. We’ll be cheering for the current number one racket of the world, Novak Djokovic, who is set to put on a show as he is known for dominating the hard court surface.
Interested in witnessing this tennis spectacle live? Here’s everything you need to know about the Miami Open 2019.
Brief Tournament History
Before we jump into what 2019 tournament has in store for us, here’s a quick history lesson on how the Miami Open was developed. The first ever serious tennis event on Miami soil was in February of 1985. The event was held at Laver’s International Tennis Resort, located in Delray Beach, a small city that’s a part of the Miami metropolitan area.
It’s safe to say that the tournament was an instant success, but it moved once more to Boca West, before settling in Key Biscayne. Some of the previous champions include Andre Agassi, Pete Sampras, Steffi Graf, and more recently, Roger Federer, Serena Williams, and Novak Djokovic.
Change Of Location
For the last 32 years, the Miami Open has been held at the Tennis Center at Crandon Park, Key Biscayne. However, that’s all about to change in 2019 as the tournament moves to a new location. The huge multipurpose sports center, Hard Rock Stadium, will become the new home of the tournament, promising to provide an even more magnificent ambient than before.
Dolphins fans are familiar with the Hard Rock Stadium as it has been their home for quite some time, but this ambitious project to host one of the most prestigious tennis tournaments will definitely attract a new crowd from all over the world.
The stadium is a much larger venue than the previous one which means we can expect bigger courts, more seats, more parking space, humongous video screens, and a fiery atmosphere. While some might miss the cozy and more intimate space that the old venue provided, others will welcome the move to the stadium in Miami Gardens, as it is definitely a step towards expanding the Miami Open and making it one of the biggest tennis tournaments in the world.
Dates And Tickets
The tournament is set to open on the 18th of March with the closing trophy ceremony, and the proclamation of the winners scheduled for the 31st of March. Tickets are already on sale and start at 28$ per individual session.
Itaú, the Brazilian private bank group, is the main sponsor of the event, so if you happen to be their customer, you’ll be rewarded with access to the best seats available, along with other benefits. More information on ticket pricing can be found on the official website of the tournament.
So, who do you see winning it all? We hope Novak solidifies his place as number one, but Roger Federer is known for performing well in Miami. If your favorite player won a match and you’re looking to celebrate, we suggest you stop by our Serbian restaurant in Miami, Rakija Lounge, and enjoy some exquisite Serbian Brandy and a quick Mediterranean dish.
